Kal Ho Naa Ho
File:KalHoNaaHo.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nikhil Advani
Produced by	Yash Johar
Written by	Niranjan Iyengar Karan Johar
Narrated by	Preity Zinta
Starring	Shahrukh Khan Preity Zinta Saif Ali Khan Jaya Bachchan
Music by	Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Cinematography	Anil Mehta
Editing by	Sanjay Sankla
Studio	Dharma Productions
Distributed by	Yash Raj Films
Release date(s)	28 November 2003
Running time	184 mins
Country	‹See Tfd› India
Language	Hindi English
Budget	30 crore ($5.99 million)[1]
Box office	77.95 crore ($15.55 million)[2]

Kal Ho Naa Ho (English: Tomorrow May Never Come) is a 2003 Indian romantic drama film directed by debutante director Nikhil Advani. The film was written by Niranjan Iyengar and Karan Johar and produced by Yash Johar under the Dharma Productions banner. The music of the film was composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with lyrics written by Javed Akhtar.

The film features Preity Zinta as Naina Catherine Kapur, Shah Rukh Khan as Aman Mathur, Jaya Bachchan as Jennifer Kapur and Saif Ali Khan as Rohit Patel. It also features Lilette Dubey, Reema Lagoo, Sushma Seth and Delnaaz Paul in supporting roles. The film narrates the story of an uptight student, Naina Kapur, who falls in love with her neighbour, Aman Mathur, a terminally ill patient. Meanwhile, Aman tries to play matchmaker for Naina and her friend, Rohit Patel.

Made on a budget of 30 crore (US$5.99 million), Kal Ho Naa Ho released on 28 November 2003 to positive critical reviews. Additionally, it was screened at the Valenciennes, Era New Horizons, Marrakech International and Helsinki Film Festival.

The film was a commercial success, with a lifetime gross of 77.95 crore (US$15.55 million) and emerged as the second highest grossing film, domestically and the highest grossing film in the overseas market, that year.^[3][4] When adjusted for inflation its total worldwide gross is 1.3 billion.^[5] The following year, Kal Ho Naa Ho won 2 National Film Awards and 7 Filmfare Awards.

Plot[link]

Naina Catherine Kapur (Preity Zinta) is an angry young girl living in New York City. Her father committed suicide when she was young, leaving her mother Jennifer Kapur (Jaya Bachchan) alone with her and her two younger children, Shiv (Atith Naik) and Gia (Jhanak Shukla). The restaurant that Jennifer operates is also financially faltering. Furthermore, Naina's paternal grandmother, Lajjo (Sushma Seth), blames Jennifer for the suicide and refuses to accept Gia (who was adopted by Jennifer) as her granddaughter, blaming her for bringing bad luck to the family. The only bright spot in Naina's life is her bumbling MBA classmate Rohit Patel (Saif Ali Khan).

Meanwhile, Aman Mathur (Shahrukh Khan) shifts to Naina's neighbourhood. Noticing the sadness of his new neighbours, he intervenes. His well-meaning interference in their activities, his help in reviving their financial standing, and his general optimism soon change their lives for the better. Although Naina is initially reluctant to enjoy Aman's presence, she grows to like him and eventually falls in love with him. Also, Rohit, who has been in love with Naina, is too scared to ask her out. On Aman's encouragement, he calls Naina for lunch where she reveals to Rohit about her love for Aman. Heartbroken, Rohit informs Aman about this. Naina goes to Aman's house to ask him out where Aman lies to her that he is married to a woman named Priya (Sonali Bendre).

Aman, it is revealed, is dying of a severe condition that is progressively weakening his heart. Also, Priya is not his wife, but his doctor. Knowing that his lifespan is limited, he sacrifices his love for Naina and plays matchmaker between Rohit and her. The tension within Naina's family also stops when Aman, after accidentally intercepting a personal letter addressed to Jennifer, reveals that Gia is Naina's half-sister through their father's extramarital affair. Jennifer's acceptance of her husband's infidelity is what led to his suicide. Lajjo finally accepts Gia, and the now-united family prepares for Rohit and Naina's wedding. Meanwhile, Aman's health deteriorates. Naina, in a chance-encounter meets Priya and learns the truth about Aman's health condition. When she approaches and accuses Aman, he convinces her to get married to Rohit, as he knew that Rohit loved her. She accepts and gets married to Rohit. After attending the marriage, Aman passes away.

Eighteen years later, an older Naina relates the story of Aman's love to a grown-up Gia and how she had always loved him. It is also revealed that Naina and Rohit have a daughter of their own.

Cast[link]

Production[link]

The film was written by Karan Johar with dialogue from Niranjan Iyengar and directed by his former assistant director Nikhil Advani. It was the last film to be produced by Yash Johar before his death. The choreography was by Farah Khan. Manish Malhotra designed the costumes of the three lead actors.

Pre-production of the film began in 2003. Kareena Kapoor was initially the first choice for Naina, but due to money issues she refused the role.^[6] Preity Zinta was the immediate next choice,^[7] and according to the director of the film, Nikhil Advani, "Somewhere at the back of my mind she [Zinta] was always Naina Catherine Kapur. She understands that lifestyle. She didn't have to do anything."^[7]

Shooting began in 2003 in New York City. A major portion of the movie was also shot in Toronto due to production costs in New York City.^[8]

Release[link]

The film was released in India on 28 November 2003.

It was the second Bollywood film to attain wide release in Germany in early 2005 (the first was Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham).^[9] Since the film's release, Bollywood movies have become increasingly popular in Germany, and other Indian films have also been shown on prime time television and have sold well on DVD.^[10] The movie was released in Poland in May 2006 as Gdyby jutra nie bylo (If Tomorrow Never Comes),^[11] and in France in 2005 as New-York Masala.^[9]

Reception[link]

Critical reception[link]

Kal Ho Naa Ho was well received by critics. Taran Adarsh gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and said: "Yes, Kal Ho Naa Ho does live up to the expectations. Yes, the SRK-Karan Johar magic does cast a spell the third time around. The film works, courtesy SRK's incredible performance and Karan's deft writing."^[12] Archana Vohra from NDTV gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, stating, "Advani ... seems to have come up with an innovative way to present a done to death plot," later adding that "irrespective of the frills, fancy clothes and well-dressed stars, the film does strike a chord and is a brilliant debut by Nikhil Advani."^[13] Rediff.com, in a positive review, wrote, "The film is fresh in treatment and storytelling. Shah Rukh excels as the supercool Aman. You understand why it is difficult for Karan to work with any other actor, because SRK steals the show with a designer-made role. Given SRK's performance, it is all the more important to take note of Saif, whose Rohit Patel will be remembered just as much as his Sameer in Dil Chahta Hai. Saif is first-rate, and your heart goes out to this under-rated actor. Preity Zinta slips into character beautifully. Right from the preppy spectacles to her no-nonsense demeanor, Preity captures the spirit of Naina Kapur. She has never looked so pretty. Kal Ho Naa Ho will carry you with its exuberance."^[14] Mayank Shekhar in his review for Mid-Day gave it 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Yes, this is soft-focus, sweet background score, ‘life is simplistic’ escapist cinema. But the bottom line: at the end of the day, it works and is worth your entertainment bucks. And that’s saying a lot."^[15] In a positive review, Dave Kehr from The New York Times concluded, "This is a rich meal that may best be reserved for stomachs accustomed to such bountiful fare."^[16] Komal Nahta from Outlook, in a three-star review, remarked, "[writer] Johar has packaged the drama so very contemporarily that the final product holds its own. Undoubtedly, [the film] is one of the cleverest love triangles in Hindi cinema."^[17] Ziya Us Salam wrote for The Hindu, "Watch Kal Ho Naa Ho. It is like life. It gives you reason to be disappointed, just as it gives you reason to hope."^[18] In a four-star review, Jitesh Pillai of Filmfare wrote, "Anyone (which means almost everyone) who has loved and lost will recognize that Kal Ho Naa Ho is a bittersweet valentine to unrequited love. Nikhil Advani makes the sensational debut that other directors only dream of."^[19]

The film also received some mixed reviews, Ram Kamal Mukherjee from Stardust praised the film's performances, technical aspects and its entertainment value, but noted several flaws in its "logistic part".^[20] Rama Sharma from The Tribune concluded, "Kal Ho Na Ho is a usual filmi love web with a cosmopolitan appeal and a lot of comedy packed in the first half."^[21] Jami Bernard from New York Daily News wrote, "Bollywood musicals, those big, loud, colorful extravaganzas from India, are an acquired taste and much of "Kal Ho Naa Ho" doesn't translate easily," though he further noted, "All three leads grow on you."^[22]

Anupama Chopra, in a positive review, wrote, "Advani, who learned family film formula with masters Aditya Chopra and Karan Johar, emerges as a distinctive voice with his first film. Written by Johar, the film revisits old ground-NRIs, wedding song, snazzy club number and Shah Rukh-but also evolves the formula. It has technical pizzazz (split screens, in-camera dialogue) and an urbane wit despite snags like sub-plots with pat endings or a lame pre-interval portion. The dialogue by Niranjan Iyengar is perfectly pitched and the performances uniformly good."^[23] Chopra included the film in her list of "Top Ten Movies of The Year", ranked fifth.^[24]

Box office[link]

Kal Ho Naa Ho was the second top-grossing movie of the year. It had a total nett gross of 35 crores in India alone, and was declared a Hit. It also made an additional 12 crores in the USA and 9 crores in the UK and thus collecting a total of 27 crores from the overseas market. The film became the top-grossing Bollywood film abroad that year. Kal Ho Naa Ho made a total of 77 crores worldwide.^[3][4] When adjusted for inflation its total gross worldwide is 130 crores.^[5]

Soundtrack[link]

The soundtrack of the film was released on 27 September 2003 by Sony Music at Mumbai's Taj Lands End's banquet hall, Salcette ^[25] in various formats and consists of seven tracks. The music is conducted by award-winning trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, with lyrics authored by Javed Akhtar.^[26] The music went on to do well at the charts, and became one of the most successful music albums of the year.^[27] Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy won their first Filmfare Best Music Director Award for this soundtrack, as well as the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.

Unlike with many other Hindi productions, the film's makers also complied with international copyright laws and obtained the license to use Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" for an extended musical sequence taking place in the streets in New York.^[28]

Post its release, the album was met with high critical and commercial success, with sales of over 2,300,000 copies.^[29] The title song was featured in Outlook's list of Bollywood's Timeless Melodies, making it the only contemporary selection on the list.^[30] The soundtrack was also listed in the top five of BBC Asian Network's Top 40 Soundtracks of all time.^[31]

Background[link]

Karan Johar decided to end the association with the composer duo Jatin-Lalit since they publicly stated that they were upset with his decision to use other music directors for Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.^[32] This marked the beginning of the collaboration of Shankar Ehsaan Loy with Karan Johar, which continues to date.

Development[link]

The theme of the title song "Kal Ho Naa Ho" is composed by Loy,^[33] and Shankar arranged the groove.^[34] The song "Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison was reused in the film, and the rights were acquired.^[35]

Track listing[link]

Awards[link]

Kal Ho Naa Ho received many awards and nominations. The awards it won are highlighted in bold:

See also[link]

Bollywood portal

• List of movies set in New York City
• List of highest-grossing Bollywood films

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kal Ho Naa Ho at the Internet Movie Database

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